On May 29, 1986, a small group of adult students taking a Creative Writing course at the Northeast Texas Community College (near Mt. Pleasant) held the first meeting of the Northeast Texas Writers’ Organization or NETWO as if is popularly known. Dr. Larry Thompson, the class instructor, had suggested some of the students might like to form a club to foster the love of writing. The first meeting drew only Dr. Thompson, Jean Pamplin, Jean Crawley, and Richard Bookout.

But soon, others heard of the group and joined. One of the first was Georgia Henson, and she immediately became the cheerleader and chief promoter of NETWO. By 1991, the group had already sponsored five conferences, a workshop, a poetry contest. And the group did something that at that time was uncommon. They published a book written by members and other writers in northeast Texas. The book, Country Stores of East Texas, was an effort to capture some of the folk history of the area. Even today, twenty years later, people ask about the book. Unfortunately, all copies were sold or distributed.

To date, three other books have been published by NETWO. Following Country Stores, NETWO published Country Faith and Fate – Churches and Cemeteries of East Texas and Country Notions and Potions of East Texas. These three books shone a light on many of the important aspects of east Texas that are mostly gone today.

In 2008, NETWO had grown to 94 dues paying members. That year, the organization put out an anthology of short stories and poetry entitled A Treasure Box.

The spring conference has grown and now attracts attendees from a wide range. Speakers are brought in from a wider area of the southwest to provide a faculty with excellent credentials to teach, inspire and encourage writers. Each year, agents and editors from New York are flown in to give writers in this rural area a chance to meet face-to-face and have private interviews with the movers and shakers of the literary field.

In addition to the annual spring conference, NETWO sponsors other workshops focused on a particular topic, for instance memoirs, short stories, poetry, and others. Classes are given to improve writing skills and marketing ability. Each year, a writing contest is held, and prizes and recognition are given to works which shine above the others. All of these activities are open to the public. A monthly newsletter keeps all members up-to-date on the activities of the group, recent trends in the industry, and current contests. The newsletter also publishes some shorter works of members. An extensive website provides much information on NETWO, as well as the opportunity to join, register for the conferences or workshops, or obtain a wide range of information about NETWO.

The 2011 conference was NETWO’s 25th conference. The NETWO conference has gained an excellent reputation for having a top-notch faculty and for the way it is run. Many who attend claim it is the friendliest conference they have ever attended. NETWO prides itself in bringing a quality conference to rural northeast Texas.

NETWO stays true to its goal to accept all members, regardless of age or persuasion, in the belief that variety enhances learning. Its purpose is now, as in 1986, to promote all literary pursuits.